Other name: Cham, Chiem, Chiem Thanh Cham Pa, Hoi, etcLocal groups: Cham Hroi, Cham Poong, Cha Va Ku and Cham
Chau Doc.Population: 98,971 peopleLanguage: Cham language belongs to the Malyo-Polynesian
language family.History: The Cham, who have lived along the coast of
central Vietnam for a long time, possess a rich culture profoundly
influenced by Indian culture. Until the 17th century, the Cham had
successfully maintained their own nation, known as Cham Pa. The local
population is composed of two groups: those living in Ninh Thuan and
Binh Thuan believing in Brahmanism, with a smaller group following Bani
(old Islam). Those residing in Chau Doc, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai and House
Chi Minh City follow what is referred to as new Islam.Production activities: The Cham have a tradition of wet
rice cultivation. They are experienced in intensive farming and
gardening and use irrigation. Apart from wet rice cultivation, the Cham
also cultivate an annual crop of rice on dried swidden fields located on
the mountainsides. Meanwhile the economy of the Cham living in the
South is characterized by fishing, agriculture, textile weaving and
small-scale enterprise. Handicrafts are fairly well-developed,
especially silkworm textiles and handmade pottery wares that are baked in open kilns. The Cham
engaged early on in external trade with other population, as the central
coast used to be a busy hub for commercial transactions by famous
merchant ships.Diet: The Cham eat rice cooked in large and small
earthen pots. It is often accompanied by fish, meat and bulb vegetables,
which are obtained from hunting, gathering, husbandry and agricultural
production. Popular drinks are rice and can (pipe) wines. Betel
chewing is very important to people’s daily life and traditional
rituals.Clothing: Both men and women wear long one-piece
sarongs or cloth wrappers. Men wear shirts fastened down the center with
buttons, while women wear long-sleeved pullover blouses. The main color
of their daily dress is cotton white.
Nowadays, the Cham dress like the Viet in other parts of central
Vietnam, with long-sleeved blouses which is only worn by elderly women.Lifestyle: The majority of Cham live in Ninh Thuan and
Binh Thuan. They build their houses on the ground, with the rooms being
arranged according to a particular order: the sitting room, rooms for the parents, children, and
married women, the kitchen and warehouse (including the granary), and
the nuptial room of the youngest
daughter.Transportation: Te chief means of transporting goods
and produces is the back-basket. The Cham are also expert boat builders,
which serves river and sea fishing. They also make heavy-weight buffalo
carts for transporting large quantities of goods by land.Social organization: The Cham family is traditionally
matriarchal, though in the past Cham society was a feudal one. In areas
where people follow Islam, the family structure may be somewhat
patriarchal, although traces of matriarchal still exist in family
relationships and ancestors worship. The local population was originally
divided into two major family lineages, including Cau and Dua, such as
the Nie and Mlo of Ede then became a working class, while the Dua was
the class of aristocracy and priests. Under each lineage were the
mother-governed sub-lineages, always headed by an aged woman, of the
youngest lineage. The lineages can have numerous family branches. The
ancient Cham society also set out ranks for different social classes,
including that of the ancient Indian society. The social classes lived
in different areas, and there were certain barriers between them that
prevented cross-marriage, co-existence in the same village, eating from a
shared tray of food.Marriage: Cham women take the initiative in marriages.
The couple lives with the wife’s family, and children are named after
the family name of the mother. Wedding
gifts are prepared by the bride’s family. Monogamy is a principle
of all marriages.Funerals: Cham traditions have two forms of sending the
deceased to the world beyond: burial and cremation. Brahmanists often
cremate the deceased according to their religious principles, while
other Cham bury their loves ones. Members of the same family lineage are buried in the same
place as their mother.Building a New House: the Cham living in Ninh Thuan and
Binh Thuan believe that they have to perform certain religious rituals
before the building of a new house, particularly praying for the land’s
god and asking for his permission to cut down trees in the forest. A
ritual is also held to receive the trees when they are transported to
the village. A ground-breaking ceremony called phat moc is also
held.Festivals: Various agricultural rites are performed
each year. These include ceremonies for the opening of a canal and
embankment, for young rice, for the appearance of paddy ears. The most
important event, called Bon Kate, is held by the Cham towers in
the tenth moth of the lunar year.Calendar: The Cham make their agricultural schedule
based on the lunar calendar. Education: The Cham
developed their own writing system early. Many literary works written on
stelae and ancient manuscripts are still preserved today. The Cham
script is based upon Sanskrit, but its use is limited to the upper
classes of the aristocracy and priests. Instruction and professional
training is essentially transmitted orally and by memorization.Artistic activities: Among the more striking Cham
musical instruments are their drums with leather drum heads, called Paranung, cylindrical
drums, and the xaranaiclarinet.
Cham folk songs and ancient Cham music have influenced considerably the
music and folk songs of the Viet people in the central parts of
Vietnam, particularly cylindrical drum music, songs relating sad or
tragic stories, and traditional songs of Hue. Traditional Cham dances
are also found in the important annual event of Ban Kate held by the
Cham towers.Games: Children are font of games such as kite flying,
mock combats, flag seizing, hide
and seek, etc.

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